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The Razorbill. (Alca torda.)
The bird is common on the coasts and islands of the North Atlantic, migrating according to the season. It nests on the ledges of the cliffs, where in spring huge flocks may frequently be seen. The Razorbill feeds on fish captured by diving, and when it is bringing food to its young as many as six small fish are sometimes carried in its beak at once, arranged in a row with heads and tails alternately to the right or left. The beak is not only unusually deep, but also very narrow, and though not as sharp as a razor, it has a distinct edge at top and bottom, the sides being marked by grooves and white lines.